By David Muwanga

WOUBALEM TAYE, a member of the African Technical Advisory Committee of Ethiopia has criticised African governments for marginalising local companies in the awarding of contracts for information communication technology (ICT) services.
“Private sector organisations involved in the provision of ICT services should be included in the national programmes instead of marginalising them when governments award contracts to multinational companies,” he said.
He said that the private sector in Africa has an important role to play in realising the African information society. It can stimulate growth and assume market leadership by developing infrastructures through investments in relevant areas.
“The private sector is important in developing and diffusing information and communication technologies for infrastructure, content and applications. It is not only a market player but also has a role in a wider sustainable development context,” he said.
“Governments must ensure that peace and security prevails as violent crime and war will not attract investment from the ICT business sector. Corruption is a barrier to effective resource mobilisation,” said Waudo Siganga of Business Interlocutors, an association of East African business people.
He said the liberalisation of African economies is a necessary condition for private sector investment that will open the way for universal access.
“Government policies that limit choices or promote one form of technology over another deprives users of best solutions, stifles competition and innovation - thus impairing economic development and productivity,” Siganga said.
He argued that transactions conducted using electronic commerce should receive neutral tax treatment. “Internet tax policy should neither penalise electronic commerce nor inhibit the offering of electronic services while existing intellectual property laws need to be applied. New laws should be developed cautiously keeping in mind the need to balance protection while not inhibiting growth”.
He said governments should promulgate laws regulating the use of credit cards, cyber cash and digital signatures. Furthermore, effective measures should be put in place to effectively deal with online fraud and hacking.